Earlier this week, a prominent Canadian environmentalist wrote that “carbon pricing alone is not sufficient to cut carbon emissions to the extent required.” He argued that carbon pricing must be backed up by complementary actions, paid for by the revenues brought in by carbon pricing. In Ontario’s proposed $15 per tonne scenario, he isn’t wrong.
Last week 175 world leaders signed a landmark agreement for global climate action. This is historic. But as we have come to know, the proof is in the ratification, and ultimately the implementation. Particularly if Canada is expected to deliver on its reduction commitment of 30% below 2005 levels by 2030. But what will it
Recent news stories have revealed internal tensions facing the Ontario Government over how to best implement a carbon price. A number of ministers are apparently deeply concerned about the economic impact of removing $1.9 billion from the economy, and proposing a wide range of ways to protect consumers and companies from these higher costs –
Next week in Vancouver, Patrick Brown, the leader of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party, will speak to a group of gay, lesbian and transgender Tories about equality and how it doesn’t matter who you love. The very next day, he will speak to another group, telling them that climate change is a threat, man-made, and
Last weekend, Clean Prosperity attended both the federal Conservative, and federal Liberal Policy Conventions in Vancouver and Winnipeg, respectively. In Vancouver, Mark, Kaitlin and I talked to conservatives of all stripes about the importance of developing a strong, conservative climate action policy. Many agreed that environmental preservation is a historically conservative issue, that has been
Yesterday the Alberta government passed Bill 20 – the Climate Leadership Implementation Act – which sets in law Alberta’s carbon tax. After weeks of heated debate in the legislature, the government used its majority to pass the bill, despite failing to answer many critical questions raised in the house regarding implementation. To be clear, a
Last week, the eyes of the world were on Ottawa as US President Barack Obama, Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau gathered for the 2016 North American Leaders Summit. While much was discussed at the Summit, from NAFTA to the TPP to Canada’s Mexican Visa Requirement, it’s most significant outcome was
On Wednesday, the Government of Ontario released its new Climate Change Action Plan, a complement to the cap and trade plan that the government has been gradually elaborating over the past few months. While the cap and trade plan is supposed to create economic incentives for businesses and consumers to reduce their own emissions, the
For those who may not have heard, this week, nearly 20 of Canada’s leading companies joined federal Environment Minister in calling for a carbon price. Unilever Canada, Scotiabank, Enbridge, Air Canada and numerous others, have all signed on to the Carbon Pricing Leadership Coalition established by the World Bank. While this move comes as little
On Jan. 1, Ontario consumers noticed a spike in gas prices as the province’s new cap and trade system came into effect. Cap and trade will add about four cents a litre for gasoline and about a dollar per gigajoule to natural gas bills. It will increase other prices too as increased costs of production
In fact, only about 30% of the revenue collected will be returned to taxpayers through consumer rebates to low-income earners and small business tax cuts. The remaining 70% will be used to further increase government spending on programs and projects, and coal buy-outs. Rather than heed the advice of the expert Climate Change Advisory Panel
